When to plant pepper (sweet & chili) in Philadelphia
Pepper (sweet & chili) is frost-tender, so every date keys off Philadelphia's last spring frost of Mar 28.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 13 – Mar 6
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
May 21 – Jun 11
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jul 25 – Aug 19
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
65 – 90 d
Philadelphia's 234-day season leaves this much room.
Pepper (sweet & chili) on Philadelphia's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FROST
MAR 28
NOV 22
Common questions
When will pepper (sweet & chili) be ready to harvest in Philadelphia?
Expect to harvest from around late July (Jul 25–Aug 19) in Philadelphia, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.
When should I start pepper (sweet & chili) seeds indoors in Philadelphia?
Start seeds indoors around mid February (Feb 13–Mar 6) in Philadelphia, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 83%.
When can I transplant pepper (sweet & chili) outdoors in Philadelphia?
Transplant outdoors around late May (May 21–Jun 11) in Philadelphia, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.
How long is the growing season in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia has roughly 234 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow pepper (sweet & chili) to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow pepper (sweet & chili) 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Philadelphia's frost dates.
Confidence 87/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.